Five Frank Mental Health Tips for Enjoying Your Family This Holiday Season
What can help you through spending time with family this holiday season? Dr. Margaret shares five frank suggestions to figure out how to do just that. Happy Holidays!
Four Vital Things to Realize When You’re Fighting About “The Kids”
Note: This post isn’t meant to address more severe relationship issues, such as intentional abuse or manipulation, or divorced couples. Please see here and here for help in those cases. Parenting is one of the toughest jobs in the world. There’s no rehearsal. No interview process. You...
The Silent Damage of Emotional Abuse
The damage of emotional abuse may go unseen and silent. But it’s very real. You may see yourself or someone you love in the stories I’m about to share. So please read with care. The stories… Debbie Debbie sat, quietly crying in my office, “I don’t think I...
The One Question You Can Ask to Stop Fighting With Your Partner
You love your partner and you value your relationship. But… the two of you have developed a habit of falling into fights more and more frequently. It may have even grown so problematic that you shudder when you hear them pull into the driveway, anticipating the inevitable argument. Whether...
“I Love You, But…” How Couples Hear And Deal With Criticism
I can go through phases where I criticize my husband’s driving a bit too much. He slows down to look at something, and I exaggeratedly start waving my hand out the side window as if we are on a parade float, silently suggesting that he needs to pick up the pace. Or we’re speeding along...
Five Reasons We Talk “At” Each Other And How To Listen
When couples walk in my door with their chief complaint being, “We can’t communicate,” one of the things I immediately wonder is whether either one is truly listening…or are they talking “at” each other? All too often instead of listening to your partner, you...
Five Ways To Be Your Best Self During A Divorce
What’s a “good” divorce? I’ve heard it said that a good divorce is the one that never happens; of course that’s idealism, not realism. Obviously, many of us do get divorced for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the choice to divorce is mutual; other times it very much...
Five Commitments To Yourself If You Love (Or Have Loved) A Narcissist
Narcissism. That word gets thrown around a good deal these days to describe someone who’s self-absorbed, highly confident, or abrasive. These may be annoying personality traits, but they aren’t the definition of narcissism. So what is a true narcissist? And what are the troublesome dynamics...
Ten Questions To Ask If You’re In A Codependent Relationship
Codependent. You’ve probably heard people describe themselves or others as “codependent;” it’s a commonly used term these days. But what exactly is codependency? Is it a good thing, a bad thing, or somewhere in the middle? There are many different definitions, and many...
Nine Essential Steps After Divorce: How To “Get Along For The Children’s Sake”
I didn’t think I was going to be a mother. For a long time, I hadn’t wanted to be. I thought I was lacking the gene that made you want to wipe noses, sing lullabies, or run carpool. I loved my nephews, but didn’t connect with the desire to make the bulk of my day about answering...
Dr. Margaret’s Book Now Available!
I'm thrilled to announce my new podcast has earned almost three and a half million downloads! Join thousands of subscribers and tune into SelfWork. It's available here on the website under the tag "SelfWork" and for subscription on iTunes. We talk about similar things as here, but go even further in-depth. Hope you'll join those who listen weekly!
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